Flow back separation system and method

Abstract

A flow back system for separating solids from a slurry recovered from a hydrocarbon well. The system includes a V-shaped tank with a first series of baffles configured to cause the settling of solids that are moved by a shaftless auger to a conduit fluidly connected to hydrocyclones mounted over a linear shaker. The overflow from the hydrocyclones is discharged through a second conduit back into the tank for processing by a second series of baffles resulting in a clean effluent. The clean effluent is recirculated in the well.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for separating solids from a slurry recovered from a hydrocarbon well, comprising:
 a tank having side walls, a bottom, and a top, the tank having a front section, a mid-section, and a rear section; 
 a degassing unit operatively associated with the tank, the degassing unit removing an entrained gas from the slurry and discharging a first slurry into the tank whereby a first settling of a first solids within the first slurry takes place; 
 a conveying device operatively positioned within the tank, the conveying device configured to cause the first solids to move proximate to an inlet of a first conduit operatively positioned within the tank; 
 a pump in fluid communication with the first conduit, the pump configured to pump a second slurry containing the first solids through the first conduit; 
 a hydrocyclone unit in fluid communication with an outlet of the first conduit, the hydrocyclone unit receiving and processing the second slurry to produce an overflow comprising a first clean fluid and an underflow comprising the first solids; 
 a shaker operatively associated with the hydrocyclone unit, the shaker configured to receive the underflow from the hydrocyclone unit and to cause a dewatering of the first solids to produce a dried first solids, the shaker further configured to convey the dried first solids for disposal or reuse, the shaker producing an underflow comprising a third slurry comprising a second solids, the shaker configured for depositing the third slurry into the tank for recirculation through the first conduit to the hydrocyclone unit; 
 a second conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the second conduit in operative association with the hydrocyclone unit to receive and provide a flow path for the overflow comprising the first clean fluid, the outlet of the second conduit operatively positioned within the tank for discharge of the overflow comprising the first clean fluid therein; and 
 an overflow device operatively positioned within the tank, the overflow device configured to provide an outlet for the first clean fluid to exit the tank. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rear section of the tank includes a sloped internal wall, the sloped internal wall configured to provide a pathway for the underflow from the hydrocyclone unit so that the first solids settle proximate to the inlet of the first conduit. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein an angle of the sloped internal wall is in the range of 30 degrees to 90 degrees relative to a horizontal ground reference. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a possum belly operatively positioned within the tank directly adjacent to the outlet of the second conduit. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the possum belly is perforated to permit the overflow discharged from the outlet of the second conduit to flow there-through. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an oil skimmer operatively positioned within the tank. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the oil skimmer is a horizontal oil skimmer or a vertical oil skimmer. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more oil skimmers positioned within the tank at its rear section. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more oil skimmers comprise two oil skimmers respectively positioned on a first side and a second side of the tank. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a back baffle positioned at the rear section of the tank extending behind the one or more oil skimmers at the rear section of the tank, the back baffle configured to direct flow of the first clean fluid to the one or more oil skimmers. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conveying device is a shaftless auger comprising a full pitch section and a half pitch section, wherein the full pitch section is operatively positioned at the rear section of the tank. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein full pitch section comprises a first series of flights, each flight spaced apart from an adjacent flight by a distance in the range of 9 inches to 18 inches, and wherein the half pitch section comprises a second series of flights, each flight spaced apart from an adjacent flight by a distance in the range of 4.5 inches to 9 inches. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaker is a linear shaker having a proximal end that discharges the underflow, and wherein the proximal end is operatively positioned at the rear section of the tank. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a slide operatively associated with a distal end of the linear shaker, the slide configured to receive the dried first solids from the linear shaker and discharge the dried first solids from the linear shaker. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a deck operatively positioned over the top of the tank. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a guard rail extending around a periphery of the deck. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a support frame operatively positioned about and supporting the tank. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of wheels operatively associated with the support frame, the plurality of wheels positioned at a back of the tank, the plurality of wheels providing mobile transport of the tank. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a spray bar pump in fluid communication with a spray bar conduit, wherein the spray bar pump is configured to pump the first clean fluid from the tank to the shaker via the spray bar conduit. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the shaker includes one or more slotted pipes in fluid communication with the spray bar conduit, the one or more slotted pipes being operatively positioned adjacent a bed of the shaker, the one or more slotted pipes being configured to discharge a portion of the first clean fluid into the bed to prevent a buildup of the second solids. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the degassing unit is operatively positioned over the top of the tank. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a suction pump. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaker is configured to convey the dried solids to a storage device. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the overflow device comprises a pipe. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first settling device operatively positioned within the tank, the first settling device configured to cause the first settling of the first solids within the first slurry. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first settling device comprises a first series of baffles. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 26 , wherein the degassing unit is operatively positioned over the top of the tank and wherein the first series of baffles are operatively positioned below the degassing unit. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 26 , further comprising a second series of baffles operatively positioned within the tank, the second series of baffles configured to cause a second settling of a third solids, and wherein the first series of baffles is slanted in a first direction and the second series of baffles is slanted in a second direction. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 25 , further comprising a second settling device operatively positioned within the tank, the second settling device configured to cause a second settling of a third solids. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 29 , wherein the second settling device comprises a second series of baffles. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 30 , further comprising an underflow weir operatively positioned within the tank directly adjacent to a last baffle comprising the second series of baffles, the underflow weir configured to cause the first clean fluid to flow under the underflow weir.